How about entertainment we *can*stomach?!

[moofolk]

Inspired by the other thread of feminism ruining TV.

Let's compile some good stuff.

Not too many men, lots of strong female characters, hopefully some lesbians, definitely not loads of women being raped and murdered for male titillation.

I watched The Women with Meg Ryan and Annette Benning recently. It's bubblegum and hardly a feminist manifesto. It has a very strong female cast including Bette Midler and Carrie Fisher and crucially there are no men in it at all.

What have you got?

Oh, something else I enjoyed recently is Diggstown. It's not heavy, a lawyer show, but things tend to get wrapped up every episode. It's probably slightly too earnest, but it's very much a woman focused show. It's not really my sort of show under normal circumstances but it was filmed in my town/neighbourhood (the lawyers office is actually my husband's dentist's office) so I gave it a try, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Xena Warrior Princess

Ooh ooh ooh! I just remembered that I just binged Why Women Kill on Alibi on Sky. Lucy Liu stars and directs. Amazing! 3 women all living in one house - one in the 1960's one in the 80's and one now. Brilliant on women and their lives and on what men do to them and the modern one had its tongue right in its cheek with a very woke couple, 'I saw her speak at a feminist rally and when she came out on stage I just thought 'Wow! That is one hot feminist!''

Lucy Liu is amazing in it too. And it has a hilarious title sequence.

That would be Lucy "my career is too important for me to waste time being pregnant so I'll use a surrogate" Liu?

No thanks. I'll pass.

Ah. I didn't know that. Bad Lucy.

T'was still a fucking great series though...

One of my favorite movies is "The Group" which is about 8 women who were hallmates at Vassar and graduated in 1933 and what happened to them in the years before the start of World War II. It's most famous now because Candice Bergen made her acting debut in it.

Also, if you've seen the recent version of "The Women", you might want to check out the 1939 original starring Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford.

If we're going retro, the original run of Upstairs Downstairs is fantastic. Originally an idea of Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins who were inspired by their grandmothers' time in service. Marsh also starred as housemaid Rose and wrote for the series too. The series dealt with so many serious issues really unflinchingly and the characters are all such real people.

YY to Mum. Superb.

They are both cartoons, but I love Steven Universe and the reboot of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. Loads of complex and flawed female characters in main and supporting roles.

Better Things by Pamela Adlon on bbc iplayer. Single mum, 3 kids and she's just brilliant. Funny and dry.

I hear your names and I give you......OZARK!
Mind is bloody blown by the incredibly well-written women leads. It’s a great piece of work, nay art.

Mind is bloody blown by the incredibly well-written women leads.

Well put, in a grisly kind of way…

I was sad to see there will only be one more season.

@4minutes33

Mind is bloody blown by the incredibly well-written women leads.

Well put, in a grisly kind of way…

I was sad to see there will only be one more season.

The next season is divided into two chunks of six episodes each. That means there is a solid storyline coming on hopefully. I can sweat I have guessed it and have exhorted a bet from DH on how it’s going to turn out.

@Deliriumoftheendless

Xena Warrior Princess

Oooh xena!

Have nearly finished watching Buffy with DS1 might go for Xena as our Sunday morning viewing for a while

Also definitely agree on GLOW being fabulous apart from the age difference and WTF does Ruth see in Sam? Just why?!

Stargate SG1. Samantha Carter is a brilliant astrophysicist, pilot and kicks ass. Such a fantastic female character.

Reading this and seeing people's suggestions, Cagney & Lacey was amazing and so ahead of its time. Is there anything now to compare?!

I haven't seen Scott & Bailey but is about two female cops (one is Suranne Jones) and written by Sally Wainwright.

Obvs not the ongoing nature of Cagney & Lacey but don't know how else it compares or not

I love Scott and Bailey. You see snapshots of their personal lives and how sexism directly impacts on their work. And there are plenty of examples of dickish male behaviour among colleagues woven in to the plot. Their boss is a wonderful leading female character.

What I like best about it though is that the characters are rounded. They make mistakes. Bad ones sometimes. But like Cagney and Lacey, they are not the archetypal "tough female cops" you often see portrayed on telly who to appear credible apparently have to have a permanent wooden stressed boot face, a crumbling home life, and resemble an emotionless man. They have a sense of humour and "scary" emotions such as love, friendship and loyalty are all fully explored.

Place marking

Getting On was great and written by Jo Brand, Vicki Pepperdine & Joanna Scanlan.

Very dry, clever humour.

@JKRforPM

Ahh I see my suggestion of ST Voyager has already been mentioned!

In an era when female characters on TV were only leads because they had special powers/magic/etc Janeway was an ordinary woman who was Captain of a starship. And she was so well written (and played) she needs a special place in tv history!

I agree about Captain Janeway.

I read a while ago that there was some tension between Kate Mulgrew and Jeri Ryan, because KM wasn't keen on the 't&a' aspect of Seven's character.

I agree with KM, but that's hardly JR's fault!

I used to enjoy a series called Bomb Girls, about four women working in a Canadian munitions factory in WW2 - only two series unfortunately. Lots of female involvement behind the scenes as well - writers, producers, etc

Workin moms on Netflix is good if you’re after something light hearted.

• I read a while ago that there was some tension between Kate Mulgrew and Jeri Ryan, because KM wasn't keen on the 't&a' aspect of Seven's character.

I agree with KM, but that's hardly JR's fault!*

More the fault of the costume designer. Actually what got me about seven's outfit most was the high heels. Wtf? Anyway, she had a much better look in Picard.